Philippines - Politics
The Philippines is a multiparty, constitutional republic with a bicameral legislature. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, elected in May 2016, began his constitutionally limited six-year term in June 2016. Midterm elections in May 2019 for 12 (of 24 total) senators, all congressional representatives, and local government leaders were seen as generally free and fair, despite reports of violence and vote buying. The ruling party and allies won all 12 Senate seats and maintained an approximately two-thirds majority in the 306-seat House of Representatives. Barangay (village) and youth council elections originally scheduled for 2021 were rescheduled for December 5, 2022, so that local and national elections would occur in the same year.
ome political families and clan leaders, particularly in Mindanao, maintained private armies and, at times, recruited Civilian Volunteer Organization and Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit members into those armies. Civilian control over security forces was not fully effective. Members of the security forces committed numerous abuses.
Significant human rights issues included: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings, by and on behalf of the government and nonstate actors; reports of forced disappearance by and on behalf of the government and nonstate actors; torture by and on behalf of the government and nonstate actors; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary detention by and on behalf of the government and nonstate actors; significant problems with the independence of the judiciary.
The law provides citizens the ability to choose their government by secret ballot in free and fair periodic elections based on universal and equal suffrage. Candidates, including for the presidency, frequently had their legal right to run for office challenged by political opponents based on alleged criminal history, citizenship, or other disqualifying conditions. These cases were sometimes pursued to the Supreme Court. Political candidates were allowed to substitute placeholders for themselves if unable to complete the registration process on time.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will run for vice president in next year's elections, his party said 24 August 2021. The announcement from the ruling PDP-Laban party lays the groundwork for the strongman to retain power after his six-year term ends in June 2022. PDP-Laban is expected to endorse Christopher "Bong" Go as the party's presidential candidate. Go, Duterte's personal assistant and longtime aide, became a senator in 2019 thanks to the president's backing. Go has worked with him since Duterte was a congressman representing Davao city in the late 1990s.
Political observers said Duterte is using his vice-presidential run as a means to stay in power after his term as president ends. They believe that he could be making a play for retaining power through the No. 2 post, by taking over as president if Go were to win and then resign. Temario Rivera, head of the Center for People Empowerment in Governance, a public policy body, said in July that such a power grab would shield Duterte from possible legal action when he leaves office.
Philippine boxer-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao declared 19 September he will run for president in 2022, ending months of speculation about whether the legendary fighter would seek the country's top job. "The time is now -- we are ready to rise to the challenge of leadership," said Pacquiao, as he accepted the nomination of a rival faction in President Rodrigo Duterte's ruling party. The eight-division world champion and beloved national hero made the announcement weeks after losing what could be his last professional fight against Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, who entered politics in 2010 as a congressman before being elected to the Senate, had long been expected to make a tilt for the country's highest office.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's daughter will run for the vice presidency in next year's election, the government's election body said on 13 November 2021. Sara Duterte entered the vice presidential race by way of substitution after her political party's original candidate withdrew from the contest. Sara had repeatedly said that she was not interested in running for president, even though she has consistently topped opinion polls as the most preferred candidate for the presidency.
She did, however, express willingness to forge an alliance with another presidential candidate, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the controversial son and namesake of the late dictator who was overthrown in 1986. Marcos Jr, popularly known as Bongbong, announced he was running for the presidency earlier in October. He has already endorsed Sara Duterte as his choice for vice president. Sara's decision to run for vice president left Marcos Jr. in a strong position for the presidency. He had been ranking second in opinion polls, after her.
The Philippine president and the vice president are elected separately.
Philippine Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, President Rodrigo Duterte's preferred successor for the presidential election in May 2022, announced 30 November 2021 that he was withdrawing his candidacy. With "Bong" out, it was unclear who Duterte will support as a candidate. The president is constitutionally barred from seeking a second six-year term. "I and President Duterte are ready to support whoever will truly serve and can continue and protect Duterte's legacy towards a more comfortable and safe and prosperous life for our children," Go said. Go said he was withdrawing to avoid causing "more problems" for Duterte, who he likened to a father figure: "I remain loyal to him and I promise to be with him forever."
Candidates vying to become the next president of the Philippines started campaigning on 08 February 2022, three months ahead of the vote. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the son of the former dictator is leading in opinion polls by a wide margin. “Bongbong” launched his presidential campaign at a sports stadium north of Manila along with running mate Sara Duterte-Carpio, Duterte’s daughter who is vying to become the country’s next vice-president. The two appeared before a crowd of about 25,000 supporters clad in red and green, the campaign’s colors. The kickoff at the Philippine Arena featured strobe lights, bands, dancers, and fireworks set off outside. In his kick-off event near the capital Manila, Marcos called on people to unite against the pandemic and economic crisis.
Duterte-Carpio told supporters inside the arena that her running mate had the experience needed for office. “Why BBM (Bongbong Marcos)? Because I believe in his capability to lead as president,” Duterte-Carpio said, noting that Marcos Jr. had served as a legislator and as a local official. “The kind of experience we need not only to sustain the growth and development spurred by the current administration, but also to bring a more prosperous future. We must protect President Bongbong Marcos,” she said without elaborating.
In a video message, Marcos Jr.’s mother, Imelda, expressed confidence that the two running mates would win the May 9 polls. “I have already been campaigning a lot and from what I feel from the people I’ve been talking to, we have a good chance to win,” said Imelda Marcos, 92, the former first lady of the Philippines who is still a political force.
Apart from Marcos, the three main contenders are Leni Robredo, the current vice president and a human rights lawyer. At her rally, Robredo called for establishing an honest government with Duterte's authoritarian policies in mind. Francisco Domagoso is the mayor of Manila and a former actor. And senator Manny Pacquiao is a former boxing superstar. Other presidential candidates include Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former police chief; and labor leader Leody de Guzman.
Key election issues are Duterte's heavy-handed crack down on illegal drugs and how to deal with China. The country's relations with Beijing have been strained over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
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